I have decided to go with an 18" DSA FAL. But I can't choose which hand guard to get. The powder coated steel or the fiberglass reinforced synthetic handguard? What is the weight savings with the fiberglass? Does the metal get hot? Any help would be great.

The metal ones get WAY hot.  Even the plastic ones will get hot, but leave it to the Germans to invent a stamped sheetmetal handguard.  I mean, COME ON!  All the metal handguards do is conduct the heat right to your hand.  Go with the plastic ones if you're ging to shoot it at all.  

Weight difference is non-existant between the two.  It's not like the steel ones are thick or anything.  The steel/wood Israeli handguards weigh a ton, but they also shield from heat no matter how many rounds you fire out of it.  They're probably the best handguards for heat protection, but also heavy.  The plastic ones are probably the best overall for weight, heat and strength.

Ross

The "plastic" handguards are great. They don't scratch, they don't get  too hot, they don't get dings nearly as easy.

I have them on mine and wouldn't have it any other way. I've held and shot both, and MUCH prefer the synthetic guards.

I had the metal handguards on my CAR15, and after a magazines, boy did it get hot.  I had to change them to the standard plastic and heat shield types.

Wow, thanx for the quick responce.